GOP Convention: Day 4

NBC2 Political Correspondent Chad Oliver is covering events in and around Tampa during this week's Republican National Convention.

We'll detail his travels here with updates and pictures.

THURSDAY:

All this week, key
players in the Republican Party have been making the trek out to Palm Harbor
to have breakfast with the Florida
delegates. And Thursday morning, the man who gave the Republican National Convention's
keynote address shared the personal side of Mitt Romney.

New Jersey Governor
Chris Christie told Florida's
delegates about the day last October when he told his wife the Romneys were
coming over for lunch.

"So we both look at
each in a real sense of horror and say, ‘OK, we've got to clean this house!'"
Christie said.

Christie told the story
of how his 12-year old son literally ran into Romney.

"So I see this
flash and it is Patrick, and I turn and Patrick is going full board full speed
on his roller blades heading directly for Mitt Romney," he remembered.

Jan Glassman volunteered
for Chris Christie and is now the Collier
County co-chair for the Romney
campaign.

"I think that his
speech, talking about Mitt coming from the heart, nails it exactly," she said.

"How can you not love
Chris Christie? What I love so much about him though is what I think the future
of elected officials, he tells it how it is," added Congressional candidate Trey
Radel.

Christie also told the
crowd not about the CEO Romney, but about his softer side.

"I saw his heart that
day, you can't fake it with children," he said.

"Clearly Mitt Romney won
the day in the Christie household just as he's going to win the day in the
American household after tonight," said Florida Delegate Gary Aubuchon.

Days after that lunch, Christie
endorsed Romney for president.

WEDNESDAY:

Two of Mitt Romney's sons, Ben & Craig, spoke to the Florida delegation at their breakfast.

Ben, a doctor, told delegates that his dad taught him the importance of family, respect for his wife and hard work.

Craig, who works in real estate, touched on his father's business career. He also stressed just how important Florida is to win for his father.

"So we're counting on you guys. Florida is a critical state. I think the election will be decided here and we need all of your help," he said.

Florida is considered by many to be the most important state in the election. Pundits are saying that there's no mathematical way for Romney to win without it.

Tonight's session begins at 7:00 p.m.

TUESDAY:

Republicans have nominated former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president, culminating a long primary fight and setting the stage for a close contest against President Barack Obama.

In a roll call of states Tuesday, New Jersey put Romney over the top, giving him the prize that eluded him four years ago. Romney is scheduled to accept his party's nomination in a speech Thursday night.

Republican voters flirted with a carousel of GOP rivals before settling on Romney, who effectively clinched the nomination in May. All of Romney's former GOP competitors have endorsed him, with the exception of Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

Paul did not have enough support to have his name placed in nomination, but he got votes in roll call.

---

Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R-Miami) and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke to delegates at the "Fresh From Florida" breakfast at the Innisbrook Resort and Spa in Palm Harbor.

The breakfast was hosted by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam for Florida and South Carolina delegates assigned to the resort.

Bondi spoke on how Mitt Romney is "pro-women" and about why she has been such a vocal opponent of "Obamacare."

Also Tuesday morning, there were many empty tables at the Louisiana delegation breakfast at the Republican National Convention.

Many of them went back up north to secure their property after turning over their duties to alternate delegates.

The alternate delegates left with the message that they have a job to do - get the next president nominated.

---

Ann Romney is expected to take the stage Tuesday night to give people a look at the presumptive nominee's personal side - sharing what he's like as a father and grandfather.

Then – for the harder angle - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will be giving the keynote speech, details of which he wasn't about to share today.

"We'll wait until tonight, but what I will tell you, I'll use New Jersey as an illustrative experience about what can happen if you stick by your principles and look for ways to solve problems," Governor Christie said.

And as the republicans got to work in Tampa, President Barack Obama campaigned in Iowa.

The president spoke to students at Iowa State University, talking about the impending landfall of Hurricane Isaac along the Gulf coast - saying America will be there to help those affected recover.

It's a sentiment that was echoed in Tampa as well.

---

Although much of the buzz Tuesday has been about the Romney family, Representative Ron Paul and his supporters are also in town and gaining a lot of attention.

And while he isn't going to overtake Mitt Romney in the delegate count, his supporters aren't going quietly.

They're mounting a floor fight at the convention over new GOP rules.

The change would bind delegates to the outcome of presidential primaries - allowing candidates to choose which delegates would represent them at future conventions.

Currently, state parties choose national delegates - usually at state conventions.

It is unclear if they can rally enough support to force a vote on alternative rules.

Though Romney has enough delegates to win a fight, Ron Paul backers could create an unwanted distraction.

MONDAY:

For delegates chosen to represent Florida - it's the chance of a lifetime.

Lavigne Kirkpatrick from Naples knows where she'll be sitting, but beyond that - it's up to Isaac.

"They don't like the idea of celebrating when people are out there getting whipped by a storm," said Kirkpatrick.

Coming out to the song 'Taking Care of Business', Governor Rick Scott briefed the Florida and South Carolina delegates about the business at hand. Storm prep for the panhandle and the northern Gulf Coast.

"I'm sure it's frustrating that the first day of the convention has been postponed. But the convention made the same decision I made. The most important thing we can do in this state is keep everybody safe," said Governor Scott.

"It's difficult. It's difficult to know where you're supposed to be. But the people come before the party. He's the Governor," said Kirkpatrick.

"I think the most that could possibly happen is they will cancel one more day of it in order to reflect on things and raise some more money for the potential victims," said delegate John Colon.

The RNC cancelled Monday sessions in part because they didn't want buses battling heavy winds over bridges.

The grey skies will soon clear - but the convention forecast for the rest of the week remains hazy.

Even so, Florida's delegates are in place ready to nominate their candidate.

2 p.m. Republicans have gaveled open their convention that will culminate with the nomination of Mitt Romney to be president.

Party Chairman Reince Priebus banged the gavel on an abbreviated Monday session as the threat of Tropical Storm Isaac forced the GOP to cram four days of speeches and videos into three.

A smattering of delegates, including members of the Texas delegation, attended the shortened session in the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

The GOP still planned for vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan to deliver his speech on Wednesday and Romney to address the delegates on Thursday.